Warning!

15 October, 2013

Oh yay. Another Second Life snapshot contest. *eyeroll*

Just a couple thoughts:The first one really isn't about the contest as much as it is about the horrible copy used to promote it. Seriously, who writes this shit? I've seen better written for hemorrhoid cream.

*UPDATE: The misspellings have now all been corrected. Third time's a charm!*

Now on to the rules.Instead of posting the rules on the Forum as was done previously, they're now posted to the Wiki, which is good. Before, the rules would poof when the contest was over and there had been some grumbling about that. This should satisfy those people, as long as they don't poof from the Wiki that LL likes to delete pages from.One of the things that I immediately noticed about the current entries is that they're all different sizes. Gone is the requirement that all entries be no larger than 500×500 pixels, not that everyone followed that rule, anyway. Some of the winning entries from past contests did not keep to it.Also gone is the prohibition against altering snapshots using external photo editing tools except for image sizing. Go for it, Photoshop pros!Those paranoid about LL grabbing as their own all of the content that users have created because of the admittedly horrible rewording of the TOS will be happy (?) to know that it extends to at least some content uploaded through SLs web properties, as well: "Uploading an Entry constitutes entrant’s consent to give Sponsor a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, create derivative works from, and display such Submission in whole or in part, on a worldwide basis, and to incorporate it into other works, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed, including for promotional or marketing purposes, except where prohibited by law."There are all sorts of new eligibility rules: You have to be at least eighteen years of age; if you're not, you have to get Mommy or Daddy to fill out paperwork (I'm sure they'll be thrilled). You cannot have won a prize from Linden Lab within the last twelve months. And for some inexplicable reason, "Canadian residents will be required to answer an additional mathematical question in order to claim their prizes"!"... exercising undue influence to obtain votes, including but not limited to, purchases and/or bribery, is strictly prohibited." Does this undue influence include aggressive lobbying on feeds, Twitter, Plurk and Facebook that we've seen in past contests? And how does LL plan to monitor this? Are they going to be watching Marketplace, L$ and other transactions?Those concerned about their RL privacy might be well advised to read this and then read it again: "... by participating in the Contest, the Winner(s) hereby give Sponsor and its affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies full permission, right and authority to use their likeness, photograph, name, hometown, and Entries, or any other information that they provide about themselves, the prize, the Contest, or Second Life, for the purposes of advertising and promotion (in any media, including but not limited to in print media, television, film, video, radio, internet or otherwise) related to the Contest, Second Life or the Sponsor, without any further notification or compensation to you other than that set out herein."The Limitations of Liability section is an interesting read. "By entering this contest, you agree that Sponsor and its affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and each of their directors, officers, employees, agents and assigns, shall not be liable for personal injuries, death, damages, expenses or costs or losses of any kind resulting from participation or inability to participate in this Contest or acceptance of or use or inability to use a prize or parts thereof including, without limitation, claims, suits, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light (whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory." *tries hard to imagine how personal injury or death could result from uploading an image*So, lots of new rules that few will read and fewer will heed. Go read the whole thing for a laugh some time that you're bored.In the meantime, send belated congratulations to the winners of the previous contest, as shown on the website: